Foot massager apparatus

ABSTRACT

A foot massager apparatus including a massager assembly comprising a support shaft driven by an electric power supply. The support shaft has a massager plate, vertically mounted at approximately a 45* angle to the support shaft. The massager plate carries a plurality of spherical roller assemblies to impart a continuous massaging motion to a foot placed thereagainst.

United States Patent [72] I Inventor Lester L. Schneider ElDorado, Kans. 66604 (3915 West 19th St., Topeka, Kans. 66604) [211 App]. No. 766,483 [22] Filed Oct. 10,1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [54] FOOT MASSAGER APPARATUS 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl. 128/57 [51] Int. Cl ..A61h 15/00 [50] Field ofSearch 128/62, 52, 51, 53, 54, 56, 25.2, 25.3; 259/72 (inquired); 128/57, 58 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,780,479 11/1930 Griffith 128/57 2,127,132 8/1938 M0nr0e..... 128/57 2,359,933 10/1944 Niblack..... 128/58 2,752,915 7/1956 Riblet 128/57 3,196,868 7/1965 Johnston... 128/57 3,279,462 10/1966 Niguet 128/57 FOREIGN PATENTS 271,834 2/1930 Italy l28/25.3

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne Att0rneyJohn l-l. Widdowson ABSTRACT: A foot massager apparatus including a massager assembly comprising a support shaft driven by an electric power supply. The support-shaft has a massager plate, vertically mounted at approximately a 45 angle to the support shaft. The massager plate carries a plurality of spherical roller assemblies to impart a continuous massaging motion to a foot placed thereagainst.

f v 49 737 l] 17 lfll I I 21 I I 32 i l 98 7 "69 I 7| II-- ---38 I /67 Patented March '16, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

LESTER L. SCHNEIDER ATTORNEY l-lll Patented March 16,1971 3,570,478

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LESTER L. SCHNEIDER BY 4u/ w ATTORNEY FOOT MASSAGER APPARATUS Numerous types of massager devices are known to the prior art operable to induce an uneven pinching type motion to various parts of a persons body. However, the prior art devices are generally complicated in operation, expensive to manufacture, and do not achieve the overall desired effect of providing a constant and comfortable massaging action to a persons foot. Additionally, the prior art devices fail to present a neat appearing structure operable to have a continuous soothing massaging effect without unnecessary possible pinching and catching of ones skin using the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one preferred embodiment of the foot massager apparatus of this invention includes a housing means; a power means mounted within the housing means; and a massager assembly secured to the power means operable to provide a massaging effect through a flexible diaphragm member which is part of the housing means. The housing nieans includes a main support base having a cover member secured thereto to enclose the power means and the massager assembly. The flexible diaphragm member is secured to an upper surface of the cover member as'by clamp members whereupon ones foot is adapted to be placed thereagainst. The power means includes a motor member; a control switch mounted between an electrical conductor and the motor member to selectively power the same; and a power conveyance assembly interconnecting the motor member with the massager assembly. The power conveyance assembly includes a drive pulley secured to .an output shaft of the motor member and having the same secured as by a belt member to a transmission assembly which, in turn, is secured by a second belt member to a driven pulley member of the massager assembly. The massager assembly includes an elongated support shaft secured to the support base of the housing means as by hearing mount assemblies and having one end secured to the driven pulley and the opposite end secured to a support plate having roller assemblies mounted thereon. The support plate extends in a substantially vertical plane at an angle relative to the support shaft whereupon the outer edge is adapted to have a plurality of adjacent roller assemblies thereon. The roller assemblies are each provided with a housing assembly adapted to receive a roller member therein permitting the same to rotate so as to assure smooth contact with the under surface of the flexible diaphragm member and with a persons foot placed thereon.

One object of this invention is to provide a foot massager apparatus overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foot massager apparatus including a housing means; a power means mounted within the housing means; and a massager assembly operably connected to the power means to provide a pulsating massaging motion through a flexible diaphragm mounted upon the upper surface of the housing means which is adapted to support ones foot thereon.

One other object of this invention is to provide a foot massager apparatus including a massager assembly having a support shaft, a pulley member mounted upon one end of the support shaft to provide rotation thereto, and a massager plate on the other end of the support shaft extended in a substantially vertical direction and positioned angularly on the support shaft having a plurality of roller assemblies on the outer surface to provide a continuous pulsating massaging action to ones foot placed thereagainst.

One other object of this invention is to provide a foot massager apparatus which is economical to manufacture, simple to use and operate, and provided with a minimum amount of moving parts for efficiency requiring little, if any, maintenance.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot massager apparatus of this invention, illustrated as having ones foot placed thereon to receive a massaging action;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the foot massager apparatus of this invention having the top wall thereof removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevational view of the massager assembly of the massager apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new foot massager apparatus of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular FIG. 1, a foot massager apparatus, indicated generally at 10, is shown as having a persons foot 12 mounted thereon to receive the desired massaging effect on powering the same by energizing the electrical conductor 14 having a conventional socket plug 16 on the outer end thereof. The foot massager apparatus 10 includes a housing means 18; a power means 19 mounted within the housing means 18; and a massager assembly 21 also mounted within the housing means 18 and operably connected to the power means 19 to achieve the desired movement to a flexible diaphragm member 23 as will be explained.

The housing means 18 includes a generally rectangular support base 25 having a cover member 27 secured thereto as by a plurality of screw members 28 to form a large internal cavity 30. The cover member 27 is provided with end walls 32 and integral sidewalls 34, both of which are integral with a top wall 36. It is obvious that the cover member 27 can be made of practically any material but having one substantially rigid in order to bear the weight of the persons foot 12 on the top wall 36. Also, a reinforcing plate 38 adds rigidity to the top wall 36. Also, a reinforcing plate 38 adds rigidity to the top wall 36. One end of the top wall 36 is provided with an enlarged rectangular opening 39 which is covered by the flexible diaphragm member 23 secured as by clamp members 43 and bolts 44 on opposite sides thereof. It is obvious that the diaphragm member 23 can be constructed of any resilient flexible material such as plastic or rubber material and is designed to give a neat appearing structure plus transmit flexing movement to the foot 12.

The power means 19 includes a motor member 45 secured as by upright bracket members 46 to the support base 25; a control switch 48 in the conductor 14 between the plug 16 and the motor member 45 to control power thereto and preferably mounted on one of the end walls 32; and a power conveyance assembly 49 adapted to transmit power to the massage assembly 21 as will be described The motor member 45 drives a shaft 51 connected to a drive pulley 52 which is connected as by a belt member 54 to the power conveyance assembly 49. The power conveyance assembly 49 includes an elongated power shaft 56 having opposite end portions secured as by bearing brackets 58 and 59 to the support base 25. One end of the power shaft 56 has an intermediate driven pulley 61 connected to the belt member 54 and the opposite end secured to an intermediate driven pulley 63 which, in turn, is connected by a belt member 65 to a driven pulley 67. It is seen that the power conveyance assembly 49 is operable to reduce the rotational speed of the drive shaft 51 from the motor member 45 to a desired slow speed for rotation of the massager assembly 2i.

The massager assembly 21 includes a main support shaft 69 secured as by hearing brackets 71 to the support base 25 to provide substantial rigidity while permitting rotation of the support shaft 69. The one end of the support shaft 69 is secured to the driven pulley 67 with the opposite end secured to a massager plate assembly 73. The massager plate assembly 73 includes a block member 74 secured to the support shaft 69 as by welding and having an outer threaded end section 76 adapted to receive another block member 77 and a nut member 79 to clamp a support plate member 81 therebetween. lt is seen that these block members 74 and 77 are adapted to receive the support plate member 81 therebetween in a secured, clamped relationship whereupon the support plate member 81 extends in a substantially vertical plane at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the axis of the support shaft 69.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support plate member 81 includes an outer peripheral edge 83 provided with a plurality of adjacent roller assemblies 85 thereon. Each roller assembly 85 includes a main housing 87 secured as by a screw member 88 to the support plate member 81 and having a main roller member 90 therein in contact with a plurality of bearing members 92 achieving a smooth rotatable feature to the roller member 90. The main housing 87 includes an anchor section 93 adapted to contact the roller member 90 and maintain the same therewith against the bearing members 92. It is seen that the roller members 90 are held within the respective housings 87 and permitted to rotate relative thereto for contacting the flexible diaphragm member 23.

In the use and operation of the foot massager apparatus of this invention, it is seen that the outer cover member 27 completely hides the power means 19 and the massager assembly 21 to provide a neat appearing structure merely having the flexible diaphragm member 23 and the electrical conductor 14 extended therefrom. It is obvious that the power outlet plug 16 is connected to a power source whereupon the control switch 48 may be turned to the on position. This will cause a predetermined speed rotation of the massager support plate member 81 which extends in a vertical plane and is positioned beneath the rectangular opening 39 in the top wall 36 of the cover member 27. It is seen that the vertical position of the massager assembly 21 is such that the uppermost ones of the roller members 90 are adapted to contact and flex upwardly the diaphragm member 23. It is obvious that on placing one's foot 12 on the flexible diaphragm member 23 that this rotational movement of the massager assembly 21 by the power means 19 operates to provide a flexing movement to the under surface ofthe persons foot 12. Due to the angular relationship of the support plate member 81 upon the support shaft 69, it is seen that there is a continual flexing of the diaphragm member 23 by the roller assemblies 85. More particularly, as seen in FIG. 3, on rotation of the massager assembly 21 as indicated by an arrow 98, the massaging movement would proceed upwardly to the limits of opening 39 and move to the upper and subsequently then start from the upper limit and move downwardly to provide a continuous always present massaging and soothing action to ones foot placed thereupon. It is seen that this would achieve a continuous, wavy form of massaging action which is most desirable for soothing and medical purposes. It is obvious that various controls could be added to the transmission assembly to provide for the desired rotational speed of the massager assembly 21. Also a motor speed control could be added to the power means 19 to provide the desired massaging effect achieved from the apparatus 10.

It is seen that the foot massager apparatus of this invention provides a neat appearing, compact structure which can be easily moved to a desired location and operable through a conventional power supply source. The foot massager apparatus is operable to achieve a desired massaging effect through a flexible diaphragm member to parts of ones body placed thereagainst. The massager apparatus is compact in structure attractive in appearance, economical to manufacture, simple to use, and substantially maintenance free.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A massaging apparatus, comprising:

a. a housing means;

b. a power means secured to said housing means and operably connected to a power conveyance assembly;

0. a massager assembly including a support shaft having one end connected to said power conveyance assembly for the rotation thereof and the opposite end secured to a massager plate member;

d. said massager plate member and having a plurality of spaced roller assemblies mounted on the outer circumferential edge thereof adapted to contact an area of a person using said apparatus; I

c. said massager plate member mounted on said support shaft at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the axis of said support shaft for maximum lateral distance of massaging action; and

. said roller assemblies each having a support housing secured to the outer periphery of said massager plate member, a roller member mounted in said support housing to freely rotate about its center in any direction to provide for the smooth uninterrupted massaging action therefrom.

2. A massage assembly as described in claim 1 wherein:

a. said roller assemblies each including a plurality of bearing members mounted in said support housing in contact with said roller member for the free rotation thereof; and

b. said support housing having a laterally extended screw member secured thereto engageable with said support plate member whereby said roller assemblies are readily replaced when required for repair and maintenance. 

1. A massaging apparatus, comprising: a. a housing means; b. a power means secured to said housing means and operably connected to a power conveyance assembly; c. a massager assembly including a support shaft having one end connected to said power conveyance assembly for the rotation thereof and the opposite end secured to a massager plate member; d. said massager plate member and having a plurality of spaced roller assemblies mounted on the outer circumferential edge thereof adapted to contact an area of a person using said apparatus; e. said massager plate member mounted on said support shaft at an angle of approximately 45* relative to the axis of said support shaft for maximum lateral distance of massaging action; and f. said roller assemblies each having a support housing secured to the outer periphery of said massager plate member, a roller member mounted in said support housing to freely rotate about its center in any direction to provide for the smooth uninterrupted massaging action therefrom.
 2. A massage assembly as described in claim 1 wherein: a. said roller assemblies each including a plurality of bearing members mounted in said support housing in contact with said roller member for the free rotation thereof; and b. said support housing having a laterally extended screw member secured thereto engageable with said support plate member whereby said roller assemblies are readily replaced when required for repair and maintenance. 